The Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) was established by Pakistan, Iran and Turkey in 1985 as a successor organization to the Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD). In 1992, seven new members viz. Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrghyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan joined ECO. ECO has thus became one of the major regional organizations in the world extending over an area of 7 million square kilometers and embracing more than 300 million people.The primary objectives of ECO include the promotion of trade, economic, technical and cultural cooperation among the member countries. ECO functions through a number of organs including eight Technical Committees, the Regional Planning Council, the Council of Deputies and the Council of Ministers. The Summit constitutes the highest-level forum at which the leaders of the ECO member states deliberate on matters of regional cooperation as well as other issues of concern.
So far, two ECO Summit meetings have been held. The first was held in Tehran in February 1992 and the second in Istanbul in July 1993. Pakistan is hosting the Third ECO Summit at Islamabad on March 14-15, 1995. The Summit is expected to intake far-reaching decisions to further promote the cause of regional cooperation.
To commemorate the occasion Pakistan Post is issuing a stamp of Rs. 6/-denomination on March 14, 1995.
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